QUEANBEYAN'S Tumanako Maori Cultural Group will perform their traditional Maori song and dances in front of an international audience during their overseas tour.
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A total of 43 children and adults from the region will set sail on May 27 bound for Mare, Isle of Pines, Noumea and Mystery Island.
Group leader Isaac Cotter said the trip has been two years in the making and they will perform traditonal dances as part of the journey.
"The cruise is a treat for all the hard work and fundraising that our group has had to do to make this a trip of a lifetime but it is also an educational and cultural trip," Mr Cotter said.
"We'll be performing on the cruise and also two of the islands we're stopping off on.
"The kids have also put together some packs with a pencil case, colouring pencils, a sharpener and ruler for the locals."
Mr Cotter, along with his wife Patricia, founded the Tumanako Maori Cultural Group in 2009 with purpose of helping to keep Maori traditions alive. Tumanako means translates to 'hope'.
About 30 young children aged from three to 18-years-old meet every Wednesday at the RB Smith Centre.
They practise traditional song and dances, like the Haka, as well as learn about Maori culture and customs.
The group regularly perform in the community including at the Queanbeyan Carnivale and Canberra Multicultural Festival.
Mr Cotter said many children would not have the opportunity to learn so much about their own culture.
"The kids mainly learn from the classes, the parents do try to teach them. However, many are inter-married with different cultures so it can be quite difficult without the background knowledge," he said.
"I learnt [about the culture] when I was younger and lived in New Zealand.
"I learnt more about it as I got older, as a teenager and came over here.
"Now, I've found myself in the position to teach."